Casualty shocks the soaps

Updated 14.44 Mon May 21 2007

Keywords: Coronation Street, EastEnders, Casualty

Casualty has shocked its soap rivals Coronation Street, EastEnders and Emmerdale by winning the Bafta for Best Continuing Drama.

Casualty's Ian Bleasdale, better known as paramedic Josh Griffiths, accepted the award and dedicated it to Britain's NHS staff.

"To the doctors, nurses and ambulance crews, thank you for doing the job you do. I hope we go some way to showing exactly what it is" - Ian Bleasdale

"To the doctors, nurses and ambulance crews, thank you for doing the job you do. I hope we go some way to showing exactly what it is," he said.

It was the first Bafta in Casualty's 21-year history and left Coronation Street and EastEnders stars stunned.

Some were particularly left with egg on their faces considering their confidence on the red carpet prior to the awards being handed out.

"I think we're definitely going to do it tonight. Definitely. I'll be really shocked if we don't," said Sally Whittaker, who plays Sally Webster in the hit show.

Jack Shepherd, who plays troubled teen David Platt, was equally as confident, saying: "We've deserved it all year round and we even deserved it last year and the year before and the year before."

EastEnders won the prize last year and Coronation Street took it home the three previous years.